Pre cesarean nerves

Has anyone asked for anything to help them calm down the morning of their cesarean? I’m really concerned I’m not going to be able to pull it together enough to lie on the operating table let alone stay still while they administer the anaesthetic!! Or worse I’m worried I’ll puke mid op!

Ive been so good my entire pregnancy lol! All of a sudden nerves and dumb unanswered questions are hitting me at 3am when I can’t sleep!

I am feeling nervous too even though I've been thru it twice before. My last one doctors and nurses were great, they told me everything as they were doing and I did get sick during the operation itself but they gave me something to help straight away.

After a very traumatic CS with baby 1 I was petrified going in for baby 2.

I spoke with the anaesthesiologist prior to the operation and express (mainly in tears) how scared, nervous and petrified I was and we developed a plan.

I cant remember the numbers at all but for an example he said he could give me up to 1ml of something before I would be placed under general anaesthetic. He said that if I wasn’t coping to say something or give him ‘a look’ and he would administer 0.1ml of something to help calm me. He then said that he could increase this if needed.

I didn’t end up needing anything in the end but I think just having that reassurance there was a huge help.

I plan to do the same third time around.

Oh, and I puked on the table too. Nurse was great and made sure to suction it all away. They also give you a horrible drink to take before too, it’s supposed to stop you from vomiting. Clearly didn’t work for me.
Mine may have also been a nervous spew too as I was sick about an hour after arriving at the hospital.

A bit hippy-dippy, but I had Rescue Remedy and lavender oil in the hospital with me before my caesar, and it helped me get through a lot of the more invasive stuff that came along before the caesar decision was made.
I was extremely nervous going into the caesar, shaking so badly I was rocking the bed! But the anaesthetist was wonderful, and the surgeon was actually the one to hold my hands and keep her face in front of mine talking me through the epidural - they were really wonderful. I think I will be the same way with this caesar, but you are definitely not left to deal with it on your own. As PP dani said, I felt like I would vomit on the table, and the anaesthetist gave me something in the epi that made the feeling go away immediately.

Yes they can, but they may not go to that extreme til you actually start freaking out. My friend was so anxious and wouldn't lay still, so they knocked her out completely on the operating table. But it was literally seconds, just long enough for them to pull baby out and as she opened her eyes they brought baby to her. So she didnt miss much if anything.

In reply to mummytiff92

Are you a private patient? You could ask for a consult with the anaesthetist prior to your LUSCS and raise your concerns there a what can be done to assist (usually if your in good health, the first time you’ll see the anaesthetist will be just before you go into the operating room). A mild sedative might just be enough. Your OB/GP will be able to give you some advice but they won’t be administering the anaesthetic or giving you the medications needed during your operation.

I haven't had a c-section, but I did have a crazy psychosomatic reaction to the epidural going in last time, and then had to go back in for surgery 5 days later, which included another back needle.

It really helped when going in to tell the medical staff about how nervous I was—if nothing else then to get it off my chest, but to also let them know what they were dealing with. My anesthetist was extra amazing to me as a result, I still want to go back and hug that man. Accept what you're feeling. It's okay. I'd say it'd almost be abnormal NOT to feel nerves about this.

Planned cesarians are a lot calmer than emergency ones. I had an “emergency” in that it hadn’t been booked for that day but it ran like a
planned one in that I hadn’t gone into labour and I was healthy enough and baby wasn’t in distress or anything I just needed baby out that day due to developing HELLP syndrome.

My anaesthetist and anaesthetic nurse were LOVELY and so calming. I was definitely nervous but they explained everything to me, talked to me the whole time about what they were doing and also random shit to distract me. If you flat out tell them you’re scared I’ve found they’re really good at calming you down (I had this for a couple of other non pregnancy related surgeries although obviously you’re out to sleep for other procedures but pre-op they were lovely).

In reply to NaomiA84

After a very traumatic CS with baby 1 I was petrified going in for baby 2.

I spoke with the anaesthesiologist prior to the operation and express (mainly in tears) how scared, nervous and petrified I was and we developed a plan.

I cant remember the numbers at all but for an example he said he could give me up to 1ml of something before I would be placed under general anaesthetic. He said that if I wasn’t coping to say something or give him ‘a look’ and he would administer 0.1ml of something to help calm me. He then said that he could increase this if needed.

I didn’t end up needing anything in the end but I think just having that reassurance there was a huge help.

I plan to do the same third time around.

Oh, and I puked on the table too. Nurse was great and made sure to suction it all away. They also give you a horrible drink to take before too, it’s supposed to stop you from vomiting. Clearly didn’t work for me.
Mine may have also been a nervous spew too as I was sick about an hour after arriving at the hospital.

This conversation and extra med reminds me of when I had my wisdom teeth out lol. I did it under twilight sleep, so I was awake but sedated and I don't remember any of the procedure now. Was the best. But when I chatted to the anaesthetist beforehand I told him how much I struggled with dental work and was really nervous about the whole thing. He gave me a little something I'm the IV to help me relax before putting in the actual anaesthetic. Had the best experience that day overall, felt well cared for and relaxed. So I think many anaesthetists are good at managing these experiences and emotions, just tell them how you're feeling :)

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